Chromebook ‘Eve’ likely to be uncovered at Pixel Event, Oct 5.

OK, those of us at Coolsmartphone towers have an unreasonable level of fascination with Chromebooks. Yes, they’re a browser wrapped around a Linux based OS. But paradoxically, they’re also so much more than they should be, to the level where both Garry and Leigh use them as daily drivers. Not all of the team are on board with the idea of a Chromebook, and that’s as it should be. Not everyone wants an iPhone. Not everyone wants the 12 MacBook. That’s the beauty of choice. Having said that, I’ve been tracking this new Chromebook for a while (if you’ve ever listened to the Coolsmartcast, produced and hosted by our Matteo (who also has a Chromebook, dontchaknow), you’ll have noticed me wittering on more than once over these recent months over a new Chromebook that’s yet to be announced. The current codename given is Eve, and it is supposedly due to bare all in Google’s next hardware unveiling on the 5th of October.

Before I get any more into Eve, it will be the same event that we’re likely to see the obvious – updated versions of the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL – as well as the not-so obvious – a smaller (and possibly mobile) Google Home. The surprises – if there can be any in the age of a master-leaker like @evleaks, is that Eve – the #madebygoogle successor to the Chromebook Pixel and Chromebook Pixel 2 may also be announced. When the project first started development and the news broke in September of last year, it was apparently known as Project Bison for reasons that I won’t even try to bother understanding.

The thing is, that isn’t too much of a crazy suggestion. The original Chromebook Pixel was released in 2013, and the second iteration came out in 2015, so one flagship Chromebook every two years for a fledgeling OS isn’t bad going.

But the hardware for Eve is anything but fledgeling. For starters, the spec sheet is impressive, Chromebook or not.

Specs

OP1/Rockchip 3399 processor

Fingerprint scanner

3:2 resolution, high-resolution screen at 2400 x 1600

Backlit keyboard (yes!)

New whizzbang* touchpad technology

Kaby Lake Processor

Slim form factor

8 GB or 16 GB RAM

2 x USC type-C

10-hour battery life

Stylus

12.3 inches

Now if all the above is true, then apparently ‘Eve’ is going to set you back about $800 US… I’ve stopped guessing what the UK price will be by the time it comes out. I’ve also stopped stressing whether it’s going to come to the UK. Seriously, have you seen the landing page for Chromebooks in the UK?